Visit at KR Audio in Prague

[MasterChief]

Found a wonderful thread from HiFiForum with pictures from KR Audios vacuum tube factory in Prague, Czech Republic.

KR Audio is a manufacturer of vaccum tubes and high end equipment (Kronzilla for example).

Here is the thread:

http://www.hififorum.nu/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=88016

Here are the Bing translation of the thread (from swedish to english); I hope it works:

http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=&to=en&a=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hififorum.nu%2Fforum%2Ftopic.asp%3FTOPIC_ID%3D88016

A couple of pcitures from the link (I love the non high tech environment :b ):

 

[JackD201]

Here's a video of the KR tube factory from Discovery Science

 

[LL21]

very cool! thanks.

 

[JackD201]

Been playing with two sets of KR amps a VA900 integrated and a pair of DX Mk.2s. We liked them so much when we heard them in Singapore we ordered evaluation units.

 

[astrotoy]

Great video. I was introduced to SET amps while on a trip to Hong Kong in the mid 90's. I was wandering through hi-fi stores looking for vinyl and in a small shop were a large man and woman. The man was in a very animated discussion with the shop owner and then started to play an amp he had brought with him. The most glorious, addictive sound emerged from the smallish stand mounted speakers. The man was Riccardo Kron (the KR of the Czech factory) and his wife Eunice. He was trying to have HK dealers represent his amps and tubes. The amp he was demoing was powered by the KR Western Electric clone 300B tubes. I was hooked, but the price in the low-mid 5 figures was way too steep for me. Several years later, I was able to fulfill my dream, when a pair of used Cary 2A3 Signature monoblocks came on the used market - powered by KR 2A3 tubes. I bought them and then started looking for speakers that would be efficient enough to run on 3.5W per channel. That is how I found my Avantgarde Duos, again bought used - with about 103db efficiency. I've had the set up for about 8 years and have found no need to upgrade. Riccardo Kron passed away only a few years after I met him. The KR factory continues on, though I now use different tubes (Psvane Treasure 2A3's) which are about half the cost of the KR's (which are now about $700 a pair).

Larry

 

[Bill Hart]

How cool. I love that monster-sized tube they make for the Kronzilla, a 610-T or something?
What shocks me in the picture of the man handling of the tube is that he is touching it with his bare fingers. I long ago started to use cotton gloves to handle tubes, to avoid getting any body oil on the glass. Maybe just another aspect of audio nervosa?
Thanks for the link.

 

[mep]

How cool. I love that monster-sized tube they make for the Kronzilla, a 610-T or something?
What shocks me in the picture of the man handling of the tube is that he is touching it with his bare fingers. I long ago started to use cotton gloves to handle tubes, to avoid getting any body oil on the glass. Maybe just another aspect of audio nervosa?
Thanks for the link.

Definitely audio nervosa me thinks. I think it’s an old wife’s tale that you can’t have oil from your fingers touch the glass of vacuum tubes. On the inside of the glass? Yes, that would be a huge problem. On the outside? I don’t buy into it.

 

[flez007]

I had a good time talking to Eunuce at RMAF, I have always liked the Kronzillas, the new model sounded fantastic to these ears!

 

[JackD201]

Definitely audio nervosa me thinks. I think it’s an old wife’s tale that you can’t have oil from your fingers touch the glass of vacuum tubes. On the inside of the glass? Yes, that would be a huge problem. On the outside? I don’t buy into it.

Color me superstitious. I still wipe down tubes thoroughly after I handle them with my bare hands. It's a habit I developed handling halogen bulbs for club lighting. With what tubes can cost nowadays, I figure, why not? LOL. I received 4 KT120s, 4 T-1610s and 4 KR300B Classics. Not a smudge on 'em after my OC, ehem, QC inspection. Someone wiped them down real good.

Eunice is a sweetheart. We had lots of fun with Eunice, Albert VS and Jim T (Eggleston).

 

[MasterChief]

Here's a video of the KR tube factory from Discovery Science

Good one! Thanks.

I realized know that this thread probably fits better in Vacuum Tubes/Valves-forum.